James a



(No Model.)

J. A. BONNELL. T ORPEDO HOLDING ATTACHMENT POR RAILWAY DANGER -SIGNALS.

. 11 Q a 1.. .nnwdu Vii?! z 9 2 y v N 1/ III/1,

WITNESSES: C 6% W ATTORNEYS.

n. crrna PnulwUlbogngh-r. Karin-mm. a c.

NlTED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JAMES A. BONN ELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL INTERLOCKING SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TORPEDO-HOLDING ATTACHMENT FORRAILWAY DANGER-SIGNALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,391, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed February 9, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, J AMES A. BONNELL, of the city, county, and State of N ew York, have invented a new and Improved Torpedo-Holding Attachment for Railway Danger-Signals, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. v

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved railway danger-signal attachment for placing and holding a torpedo on a railway-rail when the signal is turned to danger.

The invention consists in a bar or rod adapted to hold a torpedo, and connected with the danger-signal shaft, whereby when the said signal is set for danger the bar or rod holding thetorpedo will be operated and the torpedo will be placed and held on a rail, so that it can be exploded by a train running over it.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my w a modification, the torpedo beingheld on the rail. Fig. 4 is a like elevation of the same, the torpedo-holding devicebeing shown raised. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan View of the crank-connection of the device.

A forked rod, A, between the shanks of which a railway-torpedo, B, can be held by means of a binding-screw, C, is provided at the end of its lower shank with a downwardlycurved lug, D, which fits against the side of the rail. The said rod Ais secured to one end of a horizontally-sliding bar, E, at right angles to the rail, which .bar E is provided at the opposite end with a plate or disk, F, to which two or more rods,G, are attached,which pass loosely through a plate or disk, J, fixed on a rod, K, the end of which passes loosely into a horizontal aperture in the inner end of the bar E. 'A spiral spring, L, surrounds the rod K between the disks F and J. If the device is thrown out and its end strikes the rail, the spring L takes up the shock, holds the fork against the rail, and thus prevents injury to the device. Nuts a are screwed on the ends of the rods G, to prevent the said rods being withdrawn entirely from the disk J. The rod K is connected by a bell-crank lever, M, with the vertical danger -si gnal rod N, which elbowlever has its other end connected with the rod K, for operating the signal. The rod K and the bar E are guided in guides O. Abox, P, surrounding the rod Kand bar E, is provided at the end toward the rail with an up; wardly-swinging gate, Q. A rod, R, attached to the rod K, rests against the inner surface of the gate Q, and, if desired, the free end of the rod R can be provided with an eye, S, through which a guide-rod, T, on the inner surface of the gate passes, whereby the rod R can hold the gate Q closed. I

If desired, the rod K can be pivoted to swing upward from the rail, as shown in Figs.

3 and 4:; or the arm or rod for holding the torpedo may have a laterally-swinging motion.

The operation is as follows: If the signal on the vertical rod N shows that the line is clear, the torpedo is contained within the box P, as shown in- Fig. 2. If the signal is turned to danger the elbow-lever M will be moved into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and thereby the rod K and bar E will be moved in the direction of the arrow a. The rod R opens the gate Q, and the torpedo is placed on the rail. In case the engineer does not notice or observe the danger-signal, the wheels of the engine will explode the torpedo and will call the attention of the engineer to the danger. If the signal is turned to indicate a clear line, the torpedo is withdrawn from the rail and carried back into thebox P. The rod R is moved back into the box 1? and permits the gate Qto drop; or, if the gate is provided with the rod T, the rod R closes the gate, and also prevents the same from being raised from the outside, and thus prevents tampering with the torpedoes. The modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 acts with the signal in a similar manner. The spring L takes up lost motion,

and the lug D prevents the torpedo from being moved beyond the inner edge of the head of the rail.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with a railway dangersignal, of a bar or rod connected with the same, and of a forked rod, A, provided with a downwardly-projecting lug, D, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a railway dangersignal, of a rod or bar for holding a torpedo and placing the same 011 a railway-rail, the box 1?, having a door or gate, Q, and the rod R, for opening the said gate, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a railway dangersignal, of a rod or bar for holding a torpedo and placing it on a railway-rail, a box surrounding the said rod or bar and provided with a gate, and devices connected with the said bar and adapted to open the said gate before the torpedo is passed out of the end of the box, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with arailway dangersignal, aforked rod adapted to carry atorpedo and having a depending lug thereon, a'bar, E, and a rod, K, of the compensating-spring L, adapted to press said lug against the rail, and thus hold the torpedo down thereon, as described.

JAMES A. BONNETJL.

Vitnesses:

O. SEDGWIoK, ALFRED LURCOTT. 

